Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collection

[Elemental]

Most unfortunately, yesterday my city encountered a torrential downpour of rain and to make a long story short, about 120 books in my Star Trek book collection which includes 1st printings of every novel from the 70s to 2014 was damaged... Most of the books that were damaged were ones from the past twenty years.

Fortunately, the condo developer acknowledges responsibility for the damage and is going to look into compensation. I am now trying to figure out what kind of value should be placed on this... Essentially, the collection as a whole is damaged by what happened as I can't imagine easily finding replacement first editions for all the books damaged.

I'm curious of a few things:
1. How much would you value the entire collection at? I would estimate I personally have invested probably around $2000 into it.
2. How much would you value roughly the 120 damaged books at?
3. How many ST fiction novels have there been now?? I would have a hard time counting up everything but I estimated probably near 1000.
4. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

 

[OmahaStar]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Most unfortunately, yesterday my city encountered a torrential downpour of rain and to make a long story short, about 120 books in my Star Trek book collection which includes 1st printings of every novel from the 70s to 2014 was damaged... Most of the books that were damaged were ones from the past twenty years.

Fortunately, the condo developer acknowledges responsibility for the damage and is going to look into compensation. I am now trying to figure out what kind of value should be placed on this... Essentially, the collection as a whole is damaged by what happened as I can't imagine easily finding replacement first editions for all the books damaged.

I'm curious of a few things:
1. How much would you value the entire collection at? I would estimate I personally have invested probably around $2000 into it.
2. How much would you value roughly the 120 damaged books at?
3. How many ST fiction novels have there been now?? I would have a hard time counting up everything but I estimated probably near 1000.
4. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

You haven't indicated which books you're talking about. Saying there are about 120 from the last 20 years leaves it open to hundreds and hundreds of possibilities.

You'll need to come up with a list, and then look at places like abebooks.com, Amazon.com, and eBay to find their current replacement cost. Listings should indicate whether they are first or subsequent editions.

 

[Relayer1]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Condition makes a big difference too.

When you read paperbacks, do you crease the spine, bend over page corners, carry the book in your bag ? Put it this way - if they are ‘as new' - i.e. could be put on the shelf in your local bookshop and be indistinguishable from the new stock, they are more difficult and more expensive to replace.

If they looked read, they are worth very little - perhaps a dollar or two each. For 'as new', check Amazon and Ebay for values.

 

[Elemental]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

They were as new. I am meticulous for keeping my things in pristine condition.

 

[Relayer1]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

I thought as much ! I'm the same - when the spine cracked on my copy of The Sundered while I was reading it I purchased another copy...

You'd best check prices individully on the internet. Include the postage charge - you need to claim for the full cost to replace each book.

 

[EnriqueH]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

I have no idea, but I just wanted to say, "I'm sorry" because that sounds horrible.

I accidentally spilled Coke Zero on my copy of Lisabeth Shatner's Making of Trek V book, which I've had in perfect shape since around 1990 and felt terrible.

Hope everything works out ok.

 

[vegaslover62]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

I own a copy of every single Star Trek novel published(with the exception of the YA books), even going back to the Bantams and the original Whitman. I counted them recently and got just over 500.

I am also wondering what the whole kit and kaboodle might be worth. I started collecting them back in the mid-'80s, so everything might be first edition after that. A great deal were loaned out and were returned to me in reduced condition, so I no longer make that a practice.

 

[CaptPapa]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

I thought as much ! I'm the same - when the spine cracked on my copy of The Sundered while I was reading it I purchased another copy...

You'd best check prices individully on the internet. Include the postage charge - you need to claim for the full cost to replace each book.

Wow, that makes me feel better. I was afraid I was the only nutball out there that treated their Star Trek books that way. Even my most read editions (Crispin's for example) are not creased - and that after a dozen or so readings. I make sure I wash my hands before picking them up too. I have every one of the original series crew novels, and each one is in 'as new' condition. Even though I read them, I'm also a collector, so their condition is very important too.
They were all bought new and I'd cringe at the thought of replacing them (knocks briskly on wood!). What a sad event Elemental. As for replacement, I might try B&N - they ought to have a complete list, or maybe Amazon. If it were me, I'd go with first edition prices - mine are and sounds like what you had too.

ME

 

[bbailey861]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

My sympathies. I have a daughter and her family in Winnipeg and have heard all about the rain you guys had out there. I am happy to say that they suffered no damage.

Being in Winnipeg and if you are going to make the effort to check up on the cost of all the books, I would suggest using Amazon.ca and chapters.ca, since they are Canadian based and likely your best source for replacements.

I am amazed the condo developer has acknowledged any liability at all and has even hinted the possibility of compensation. I would hazard a guess that when his insurance company and lawyer get wind of it, they will kibosh that idea quickly and so will he if he has to dig into his own pocket to make any compensation. Do you not have homeowners or renters insurance as well that you can fall back on if necessary?

 

[tomswift2002]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Being in Winnipeg and if you are going to make the effort to check up on the cost of all the books, I would suggest using Amazon.ca and chapters.ca, since they are Canadian based and likely your best source for replacements.

Even though Chapters is Canadian, for their Used Book section, whenever I've ordered used books, the books have come from Alibris.

 

[bbailey861]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Being in Winnipeg and if you are going to make the effort to check up on the cost of all the books, I would suggest using Amazon.ca and chapters.ca, since they are Canadian based and likely your best source for replacements.

Even though Chapters is Canadian, for their Used Book section, whenever I've ordered used books, the books have come from Alibris.

I wasn't thinking used but good to know. I've ordered from both Alibris and Abebooks directly, and if you're set on buying first editions, in many cases I guess that's what you'll have to do. I've never researched used books through Chapters but I would think there is some sort of mark up so they get their cut.

 

[Jim Gamma]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

3. How many ST fiction novels have there been now?? I would have a hard time counting up everything but I estimated probably near 1000

My Excel spreadsheet suggests about 720 or so (including a few still-to-be-released) in all series including spinoffs.

(645 non-COE plus 74 COE at the moment but I've not updated latest to-be-released data for a few months.)

This includes Young Adult novels (Academy stuff etc) and the Strange New Worlds contest books. It does not separately count omnibus editions, or the Signature Editions.

Of these, I count 146 not available on Amazon UK Kindle (including the Blish novelisations, a load of Bantam "Logs", some of the Shatnerverse, the pre-JJA Young Adult Academy novels and much of the 60s-80s standalone novelverse).

 

[tomswift2002]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

I wasn't thinking used but good to know. I've ordered from both Alibris and Abebooks directly, and if you're set on buying first editions, in many cases I guess that's what you'll have to do. I've never researched used books through Chapters but I would think there is some sort of mark up so they get their cut.

Considering that most of the pre-2005 books are out of print in physical format, used book stores/websites would be the only way to go for copies.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

3. How many ST fiction novels have there been now?? I would have a hard time counting up everything but I estimated probably near 1000

My Excel spreadsheet suggests about 720 or so (including a few still-to-be-released) in all series including spinoffs.

(645 non-COE plus 74 COE at the moment but I've not updated latest to-be-released data for a few months.)

This includes Young Adult novels (Academy stuff etc) and the Strange New Worlds contest books. It does not separately count omnibus editions, or the Signature Editions.

What about other original anthologies like The Lives of Dax, the anniversary anthologies, and such?

Interesting that the number is 700-plus, because that's about the total number of Trek episodes and films.

 

[Jim Gamma]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Anything with original work (WoDS9, Lives of Dax) is in there - just not say Mission Gamma omnibus which collected previously released work.

 

[Elemental]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Thanks for your help and sympathies guys. My condo insurance does not cover the losses and I don't expect the owner will cover the full value. I'm going to have to do some homework though to determine what the cost of replacing each book would be (which unfortunately, I don't think I will have the inclination to actually do...).

 

[bbailey861]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

I do not understand why your insurance would not cover your losses, less the deductible. What excuse have they given you?

 

[voyager1]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

Wow, no advice. Just so sorry for you

 

[Scout101]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

^presumably the insurance story is that flooding is often excluded without flood insurance separately purchased. Covers water damage if the roof came off or whatever, but if the water comes in and does the damage from the ground up, no good.

And yeah, curious about this. Aside from maybe a few of the early DS9 paperbacks, I've got pretty much every Trek book that's been printed. And yeah, excluding omnibus editions if I already had the parts of it. Sneaks up on you $8 at a time, but there's a lot of money tied up in there after 25 years or so of collecting books...

 

[Therin of Andor]

Re: Book collection damaged - Estimation on value of ST book collectio

a load of Bantam "Logs"

The TAS "Star Trek Logs" were from Ballantine/Del Rey (USA) and Corgi (UK), then released in omnibuses from Simon & Schuster International and more recently Del Rey.